KCA Honors Strada for Distinguished Service

John Strada, a senior lecturer in the communication studies program in the Department of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University, received the Vernon Gantt Award for Distinguished Service from the Kentucky Communication Association during the organization’s 87th annual meeting at Jenny Wiley State Park in September.

Strada was presented the award by KCA President Siobhan Smith-Jones, an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Louisville. Among the reasons given for Strada’s selection were his outstanding record of service to the University and the community, as well as his commitment to service and experiential learning in the classroom.

Two EKU department colleagues, Associate Professor Jennifer Fairchild and Senior Lecturer Krista Kimmel, nominated Strada for the award. Fairchild and Kimmel noted in their nomination that Strada is “the type of colleague everyone wants. He is willing to help anyone, at any time, with whatever task necessary. He truly embodies the heart of a servant leader.”

Strada joined the full-time communication studies faculty at EKU in 2006. In addition to teaching communication courses, he serves as the co-director for the Communication Studies basic courses, is a member of the EKU Honors Program faculty, and was recently named EKU’s first faculty-in-residence. Strada also serves as an adviser for the local chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity, and is frequently an announcer for EKU graduation ceremonies.

The EKU Department of Communication brings together theory and practice by employing mentoring, coaching and teaching. Courses emphasize hands-on learning that will create media professionals, public relations practitioners and communication specialists who are equipped for the future.